Minneapolis, MN Tobacco & Vaping: Flavored Tobacco Bans (2026)
Key Facts
- Core rule
- Flavored tobacco sales banned citywide
- Shop exception
- Licensed tobacco products shops exempt
- Liquor store exception
- Menthol/mint/wintergreen only, adults-only premises
- First violation
- $500 fine
- Fourth violation
- License revocation
Summary
Minneapolis bans selling, giving away, or exchanging flavored tobacco products and samples anywhere in the city, with narrow carve-outs for licensed tobacco products shops and off-sale liquor stores selling only menthol, mint, or wintergreen flavors.
No person shall sell, offer for sale, give away, barter, exchange, or otherwise deal in flavored tobacco products or samples of such products. This subsection does not apply to tobacco products shops or to a licensed tobacco dealer that otherwise meets the definition of and requirements applicable to a tobacco products shop except for the lack of an entrance door opening directly to the outside but which has an entrance door opening directly to the public area of a skyway, mall, or other space that is not part of the premises of another business establishment. This subsection does not apply to licensed off-sale liquor stores with regard to menthol, mint, or wintergreen flavored tobacco products, provided that such an establishment does not permit any persons under the age of twenty-one (21) to be present within the establishment unaccompanied by a parent or guardian.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Minneapolis Code § 281.40(f) prohibits selling, offering, giving away, bartering, or exchanging flavored tobacco products or samples of them anywhere in the city. Two exceptions survive: licensed tobacco products shops (adults-only stores drawing at least 90% of revenue from tobacco) may sell any flavor, and off-sale liquor stores may sell menthol-, mint-, or wintergreen-flavored tobacco only if they bar unaccompanied minors from the premises. The licensing official and police department enforce the ban through compliance checks under § 281.110, and violations carry presumptive penalties under § 281.90.
Violations & Fines
Presumptive penalties escalate under § 281.90: $500 fine on a first appearance, $1,000 fine plus a 7-day license suspension on the second, $2,000 fine plus a 120-day suspension on the third, and license revocation on a fourth violation within 24 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any Minneapolis store sell flavored tobacco?
What counts as a flavored tobacco product?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Minneapolis
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